HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 07-07 No more catting around? THE REVIEW i,
No morecatting
. 7 j 1971, ....
,,,,
by Kamy Ide
Morris the Cat wouldn't like it. In fact,he'd probably
say, "Hhmmph!" '
It's all about a cat ordinance suggested to Maplewood
Councilman John Greavu by a city resident.Greavu has e
provided fellow members of the city council with copies *
of ordinances which regulate cats in the Twin Cities ,
suburbs of Roseville,Robbinsdale,Falcon Heights and
New Brighton. The council intends to "purr-sue" the
matter at its Thursday, July 8 meeting.
The ordinances presented cover licensing, con- —FALCON HEIGHTS: "It shall be unlawful for the that"cats are so hard to catch. If we have been able to
finement or leashing—and,in some cases—"dogs and owner or keeper of any cat to permit such cat to run at capture them, they would have been impounded. It's "+;
cats in heat." The Roseville ordinance very seriously large in the Village of Falcon Heights without being just harder to catch a cat than a dog." '
states, "No dog or cat shall be allowed by its owner to belled . . . Such cat shall be deemed belied if a bell is
run at large and every dog or cat in heat shall be con- secured around the neck of the cat and is audible within CITY MANAGER Jerry Splinter explained that North .;z : A ,, i ;
fined during the entire such period and until such dog or a distance of at least 50 feet." St.Paul does not have a cat ordinance. "The concept ofg _•
cat shall not attract other dogs or cats in account a cat ordinance hasn't proved very successful in other
thereof." —ROSEVILLE:"No person shall keep within the city locations," he said. "Cats have not proven to be a
limits a dog or cat or other animals which habitually substantial problem in North St. Paul."
Included in the New Brighton ordinance is a nuisance barks or cries for extended or unreasonable periods of
classification, which may be applied to any cat found time,or any such animal which damages plantings or � �. e ,,
guilty of shameful "habitual" Mewing. structures or deposits fecal matter on private property OAKDALE'S ANIMAL ordinance does not prohibit7 A `"
4k, Atis
Greavu explained to the Review this week that a busy of others after the person owning or harboring the cats roaming at large,unless the animal is in.heat.Also,
work schedule has kept him from much further-in- animal has been notified of such acts as herein provided any animal which has bitten a human being may be i
vestigation of the workability of the ordinances. He is hereby declared to be a nuisance." quarantined for a specified period of time.
said,"The man who asked me to look into this was upset Oakdale Police sergeant Tom George explained that , ,
about cats killing birds and wondered if cats could be —ROSEVILLE: "The owner of any dog or other a state law regulating many kinds of animal activities is , h , ;
required to wear bells.He had some song birds and the animal shall clean up all feces of the animal and dispose being adopted by many communities. 41 ,
kitties came along and now, no more songbirds." of such feces in a sanitary manner." George said he feels an ordinance requiring cats to be
Greavu indicated he would delve into the issue before A number of the ordinances provide fines(up to$300) leashed is a good idea."I've got kids at home and they
the next council conclave. and imprisonment(up to 90 days in jail).The Roseville like to play in the sandbox.The problem is that cats are ( ,
Most of the ordinances are written applying to both ordinance provides such penalties for persons who do very sanitary and they go in the sandbox and cover it up
canines and felines.Licenses are required, the animals not provide proper care, including food and water, for and next thing you know your kid is in the sandbox with t ``a
cannot roam at large,stray animals may be picked up their animals, or who "beat, treat cruelly,torment or it.It's bad enough having dog poop all over."
and impounded, with owners paying standard fees to otherwise abuse any animal or cause or permit any dog He added that catching cats running at large is very RESTRAINED — If a cat ordinance is passed by the
retrieve their pets. fight. No owner shall abandon any animal." difficult. "You can coax a dog and pat it on the head. Maplewood Council,felines in the city will have to be leashed
Here, specifically, are some excerpts from the A spokesman at the New Brighton police department But you can't say'Here,kitty,kitty,'and expect a cat to while outdoors.This youngcat voiced
various community regulations. said the problem with such an ordinance lies in the fact come to you. They just aren't that way. opposition to the law last
week when leashed for a"trial run."
Review photo by Scott Carlson